Golden Valley Daily Digest — Thursday, April 30, 2026

---

Golden Valley & West Metro

Plymouth votes to ban flavored tobacco sales. The Plymouth City Council passed sweeping changes to its rules around smoking, making it the latest Minnesota city to end the sale of flavored tobacco products. The move follows a growing wave of similar ordinances across the metro — Golden Valley residents may want to watch whether their own city council follows suit.

---

Minneapolis

City unveils summer safety plan with new "Chief Beats." Minneapolis police and the Office of Community Safety rolled out their 2026 summer safety strategy, which includes new late-night patrol assignments called "Chief Beats" scheduled for Friday and Saturday nights from June 5 through Sept. 6. The plan is geared toward major upcoming events including the Prince Celebration in June, Twin Cities Pride, and several high-profile sporting events.

Three indicted in assault of Turning Point USA reporter at Whipple Building. The U.S. Department of Justice announced federal charges against three people accused of pushing, shoving, and punching TPUSA reporter Savanah Hernandez outside the federal Whipple Building during an anti-ICE protest earlier this month. The incident was captured in viral video that drew national attention.

69-year-old man found shot to death in north Minneapolis. Minneapolis police responded around 8:48 p.m. Wednesday to a home near Bryant Avenue in north Minneapolis, where a 69-year-old man was found dead from a gunshot wound. Chief O'Hara confirmed no arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing.

$700M hospital stabilization bill clears Senate. A bill aimed at stabilizing Hennepin County Medical Center and other hospitals statewide passed the Minnesota Senate on a party-line vote, but faces an uphill battle in the House. HCMC is a critical safety-net hospital for metro residents.

Federal day care fraud fallout continues. Following sweeping federal raids at day care centers across the metro, state officials are working to address tax dollars flowing to centers under investigation. Separately, reporting has connected the owner of a raided autism center to another business billing Minnesota Medicaid.

Rising fuel costs push metro residents toward car-sharing. As of Wednesday evening, AAA data shows Twin Cities gas prices approaching record-setting territory, prompting more residents to explore car-sharing alternatives to cut commuting costs.

---

St. Paul

Grand Old Day returns to Grand Avenue. St. Paul's beloved Grand Old Day street festival is coming back, featuring dozens of bands across six stages, a 5K fun run, a pet pavilion, and the Grand Old Day Parade. Mark your calendars if you're looking for a day trip across the river.

15-year-old sentenced to 25 years in deadly stabbing. Jayden Carlson, 15, was sentenced to more than two decades in prison for his role in the fatal stabbing of a 19-year-old man, who was stabbed 22 times. The case drew attention to juvenile sentencing in violent crime cases.

---

Local Sports

Wild and Wolves both host Game 6 Thursday night — with trips to the next round on the line. For the second time in less than a week, Minnesota hosts a playoff doubleheader. The Wild lead the Stars 3-2 after Matt Boldy's tiebreaking power-play goal lifted them to a 4-2 win in Dallas on Tuesday — a win Thursday at Xcel Energy Center would send them past the first round for the first time since 2015. The Timberwolves are also in a win-or-go-home Game 6 at Target Center.

Stars' Jamie Benn fined for cross-check on Wild's Ryan Hartman. The NHL fined the Dallas forward ahead of Thursday's pivotal Game 6 in St. Paul, adding fuel to an already physical series.

Twins drop two straight to Mariners. Seattle rallied for a 5-3 win Wednesday on Cole Young's go-ahead two-run single in the ninth, after routing Minnesota 7-1 on Tuesday behind Julio Rodriguez's three doubles. The bullpen continues to be a sore spot for manager Derek Shelton's club.

Loons eliminated from U.S. Open Cup. Minnesota United's run ended in the Round of 16 with a 4-2 loss at San Jose, where the Earthquakes scored three goals in a seven-minute flurry to put the match away.

---

Weather

Cool and quiet stretch continues. Meteorologist Chris reports a calm Wednesday across Minnesota with occasional clouds and a few passing sprinkles — nothing major. Expect cooler-than-normal temperatures to settle in for the next few days. No active warnings for the metro; a nice evening to catch one (or both) of those playoff games.

---

Minnesota Statewide

State flag debate rolls on. Inver Grove Heights is the latest Minnesota city to vote to revert to flying the old state flag, as debate continues statewide over the redesigned banner adopted in recent years. The issue remains a flashpoint in communities across the metro and greater Minnesota.

Boundary Waters mining access cost revealed. Twin Metals Minnesota paid $380,000 to the Bernhardt Group — a D.C. lobbying firm led by former U.S. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt — in the year leading up to the reinstatement of mining access near the Boundary Waters. The expenditure raises ongoing questions about federal mineral leasing policy in northern Minnesota.

---

Have a great Thursday, Golden Valley. Go Wild. Go Wolves. 🏒🏀